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Living Someday Today

Tag Archives: Teenagers

My baby is 20 years old today. We made it! The teen years are now in the rearview mirror…where did they go?

It was just 2003 when he was in 8th grade at St. Peter’s School in Lewiston. They were fundraising for their class trip to Splash Mountain in Erie, PA. There were only 16 kids in his class at that point and they seemed to have passed that petty junior high nonsense.

Age 14, as a freshman at Canisius High School, he endured one of the biggest disappointments of his life: getting cut from the swim team. It was a hugely humbling experience which he ultimately turned around by working out, eating better and swimming more with his club. By senior year he was voted a captain and contributed to another championship.

Age 15 was frustrating for him because his high school friends were largely located 45 minutes from home with the reliance of parents to get them together. This was the year where all he did was wish away time…I wish I could drive…I wish I could just go out with my friends without it being a huge production…I wish I were older…I wish…I wish…I wish…

Age 16 – oh, how I remember this day! Anthony, being Anthony, had done all the research and knew what pieces of ID we needed to get his learners permit. He probably lined them all up in a folder, clearly marked. I had the folder with me when I dropped him off at school with the understanding I would pick him up immediately following school and bring him to the DMV. I picked him up but realized when were nearly on the Grand Island bridge that I forgot the neat folder of ID in my office. We had to go back, delaying us about 35 minutes. We got to the DMV at 3:55pm and the woman at the window would not process the paperwork and let him take the test. You see, there was a clearly marked sign explaining that right next to the window…in four languages so it would be understood by all parents and guardians from all walks of life and continents. Needless to say, he was not a happy camper. Bad mother. I did bring him to the Power Vista parking lot near Niagara University and let him drive around there. If I was busted, I didn’t care. Arrest me for letting my “undocumented minor” drive around a parking lot!

Age 17 – college applications were nearly done and waiting for guidance to complete the process. Little did I know, that was when the true teen angst (his and mine) would begin. My angst: him driving at night. His angst: where to go to college.

Age 18 and 19 – freshman and sophomore year at Fairfield University, accounting major and swim team…

We had dinner with him on Friday, saw him swim at UConn Saturday and took him to breakfast this morning. Zoom zoom…he’s 20!